The second Biennale of Contemporary Art, Noumea
It was in a restless political and cultural climate that the Second Biennale of Contemporary Art in Noumea was planned and launched. The First Biennale had been a significant event for New Caledonia, in that it provided an opportunity for much needed dialogue between artists from the country's diverse communities. I The first exhibition was well attended, attracting over three thousand visitors, and there was early speculation that a second Biennale would be an even bigger project in terms of the number of artists involved, the space and venue provided, the accompanying catalogue, press coverage and, of course, funding. Importantly, it was hoped that artists from abroad would be invited to participate.
By the time the Second Biennale had opened in late November 1996, many observers felt that these high expectations had been fulfilled. The Noumea City Council, which once more had taken responsibility for organising the event, was pleased with its final form. Like the First Biennale, the exhibition took place at the Theatre de l'Ile which had been refurbished to display the seventy-five works by twenty-three artists included in the show.
Questions of tradition, influence and change and their impact upon Kanak identity and heritage were already emerging in the work of Kanak artists in the First Biennale. Several of these artists have since travelled to Australia to present their work in major exhibitions, notably in the second Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane. Exhibition exchanges and visits have occurred between students and staff of l'Ecole d' Art, Noumea and the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. During one of these exchanges art students from Noumea became acquainted with the work of Brisbane-based artist Gordon... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline